Role of Nutraceuticals in the Treatment of Arthritis

Arthritis refers to joint pain, inflammation, or joint disease. It is the most common cause of disability, affecting people of all ages, races, and genders. In most cases, women are more commonly affected, and symptoms may worsen over time. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory arthritis and extra-articular involvement. It typically starts in small peripheral joints, is usually symmetric, and may progress to involve proximal joints if left untreated. Joint inflammation over time can lead to the destruction of the joint, resulting in loss of cartilage and bone erosion. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily targets the lining of synovial joints, leading to progressive disability, early mortality, and socioeconomic challenges. The pathogenesis of OA presents a multifaceted landscape, involving diverse etiologies and intricate molecular and cellular mechanisms. OA manifests as functional impairment of the joint, characterized by alterations in joint morphology resulting from the erosion of articular cartilage, the formation of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), and synovial proliferation. The role of chondroitin sulfate (CS) biosynthesis in OA is highlighted, with altered CS chain length correlating with disease severity. Nutraceuticals have been shown to be effective in the management of both OA and RA by acting as anti-inflammatory agents, primarily through the inhibition of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) catabolic signaling pathway in chondrocytes. In this chapter, we discuss the effectiveness, safety, and toxicity of nutraceutical products in the treatment of RA and OA.